Hot Rodding News And Events - Message Board

1/5At the www.righttorepair.org website, you can watch several informative videos about the Right To Repair, including one from Michael Waltrip. Waltrip, who is sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts, flew to Washington to testify in Congress in favor of the act.

www.righttorepair.orgRight To RepairA new bill has been introduced in Congress that would force manufacturers to provide diagnostic access to the new Camaro, and other new cars. The Act is being supported by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association. The idea behind the bill is to ensure that car owners, not car companies and dealers, are in the driver seat when it comes to where, and by whom, vehicle repairs are performed. At issue is the encrypted, proprietary nature of on-board vehicle diagnostic systems and their software components, which effectively enforces a repair monopoly for new car dealerships. The Right To Repair Act would make manufacturers provide diagnostic access equally to everyone. Besides providing a measure of choice for new car owners in their car repair decisions, the Right To Repair would also make it much easier for small and midsized aftermarket companies to develop street-legal performance parts, tools, and software for modern hot rods.

35.5 MPG Or Bust!New CAFE Standard SetIt seemed just like yesterday when the EPA first introduced corporate average fuel economy. In 1975, American cars averaged just 12.9 miles per gallon, and it was thought by a lot of people that the new CAFE regulation, which required cars to meet 27.5 mpg by 1985, couldn't be met. We thought it was curtains, but Detroit's best engineering lay in those years ahead. Once again in 2009, the gauntlet has been thrown down, and by 2016, the nation's fleet of new cars must average 35.5 miles per gallon. This is going to change a lot of things, but it won't change the ingenuity and drive of the hot rodding enthusiast!

2/5If you want to get into the high-performance business, experience in CNC equipment operation is becoming a must-even in applications outside the engine compartment. The School of Automotive Machinists has added CNC training to their program.

www.samracing.comCNC TrainingIf you've followed the Engine Masters Challenge, or read many of our articles on the engines built by the School Of Automotive Machinists (SAM), then you're already aware of their state-of-the-art engine building program for young, power-hungry enthusiasts. SAM graduates are in top race teams and engine shops across the country, including many NASCAR and NHRA teams. And now that CNC machining has become an indispensable part of the engine-building lexicon, SAM has added instruction on the setup, programming, and operation of five-axis CNC equipment on a sophisticated Haas ES-5-4T Horizontal Machining Center, which the school has procured. Students will thoroughly explore all aspects of the machining center, including digitizing and G-code programming. For more information, visit the SAM website at www.samracing.com, or call 713-683-3817.

3/5

www.camaro5.comBrake Wheel WeightsSome early customers of the 2010 Camaro SS have discovered that the factory has put a stack of wheel weights on their Brembo calipers. One new owner, who is a forum member at www.camaro5.com, and goes by the screen name "Snook," posted: "Anybody know what the deal is on the stack of wheel weights on both front calipers on the 2010 with Brembos?" After a few pages of wild guesses, Chevrolet's John Fitzpatrick answered: "Some early Camaro customers noticed that there are weights on the Camaro SS calipers. With high-performance vehicles like the Camaro SS, minor brake noise is not uncommon. The weights act as a damper to reduce noise in certain driving conditions. This was done after careful evaluation and validation by our engineering team. These weights will only be added to early builds of the Camaro SS."

4/5

Wake Up-It's 2009!We had lots of reader feedback from July's "Bangin' Gears" editorial ("Wake Up-It's 2009!"), which dealt with the intolerance that a few people have toward Pro Touring. To read the entire editorial, log onto www.popularhotrodding.com, keyword search: Bangin Gears.

I'm with you 100 percent. I look at every feature, not as a whole, but by its parts. I think about what items I could use in my ride. I can't ever say I like the whole package, because I like to have my own signature on it. But then there are other times where there may only be one or two ideas I like. I still appreciate the work and thought the builders put into the cars. Too many times I hear people "rag" on someone's car because it's not the type he likes. That'stoo bad, because there are a lot of great ideas that can be adapted. I belong to a car club (Huron Valley Rodders) where we have a large cross section of vehicles. We are always bench racing about cars in the magazine and talking about new ideas.Don McKayMilford, MI

You need to understand we pay for the privilege to read your mag every month in the hope that the vision we dream of is in the pages and at times I am sure what we find does disappoint us, on the other hand, your livelihood is dependent upon people thinking that maybe this month the dream will be in the pages when we pick up your mag for the cover price, which in turn does trickle back to your pocket if people had no passion for this you might be back at a real job so pull your head outta your ass and realize to refer to these people who have enough passion to write to you about their dream as some ignorant person's post is the equivalent of putting a gun in your mouth and pulling the trigger so come down from the pulpit you put yourself on, and at least use your brain!Dale PetersonBig Lake, MN

Hey, just a typical reader ... who is atypical in a way that is relevant. I know what it's like to get "diverging opinions" from an audience. You stick to your guns on Pro Touring. The mag is balanced and fun. And for what it's worth, I agree with you. I have a '69 Firebird and just got a Hurst Supercharged SRT8 Challenger. After driving the big brute, I put some handling goodies on the 'Bird, and plan more. The Hurst Hemi is a beast, and has a real muscle car attitude. Anyway, take care. You've got a friend at ABC News.Chris CuomoVia the Internet

In response to July's editorial, I'd have to agree with you on many fronts. For years, I was only partial to drag cars and Chevy in particular. As I grow older, I'm appreciating more and more forms of motorsports and makes. Back in the day, it HAD to be a Pro Street car, or else I wasn't interested. I get something out of every car, or tech article I see or read. No, I'm not going to build my '56 to be a Pro Touring bruiser, but I still get a lot out of reading, and applying some parts of some articles (or cars) I see. You said at the last of the editorial, "...getting out from behind the computer keyboard and doing something about it." Well, I admire anybody who does just that! The old saying, "Put up or shut up" comes to mind.Larry J. ThorntonCouncil Bluffs, IA

5/5

The G/28 CamaroI've loved the buildup on g/28 so far! Get out there and enjoy the "G." You managed to construct possibly the finest example of a mid-second-gen Camaro to date, both functionally and aesthetically. Since the car is so functional, take advantage of it! Show it off! Try to get the "G" to match lap times with a Viper, Z06, or ZR-1 around Laguna Seca or Willow Springs. Proving that it can be done would motivate the masses and validate our attempts at improving classic iron. You'd only be helping to support the premise that older cars aren't obsolete, and outstanding performance can be had at much greater value than can be found on a showroom floor.Patrick ThomasVia the Internet

We're working on a 400ci small-block for g/28 right now. We're also contemplating a suspension change, but haven't decided anything.

The 2010 CamaroThank's for your article on "20 Things You Didn't Know About the 2010 Camaro." It was very exciting, especially the gearbox shift pattern differences in the V-6 and V-8 models. I remember working as a valet and nestled into a Porsche 928, slid the lever into what I thought was First, and proceeded to almost hit the car behind me! Damn German engineering, I thought. A Camaro V-6 manual will take some getting used to!Dave RacoVia the Internet

Get the V-8 SS, you'll be happier.

Let Your Voice Be Heard!We want your input in Popular Hot Rodding, but we aren't psychic. Sound off on how you feel about this issue, or anything that's on your mind. Contact us by email at john.hunkins@sorc.com.